Thursday morning at Churchill Downs was cold but at least the sun was back. The track was quite busy since the first Breeders' Cup race day is tomorrow and all the horses are at the track now. There were several timed works and quite a few horses on the turf, but the one everyone wanted to see was Zenyatta, who came out shortly after 9am. Later in the day, we watched a few horses school in the paddock, including Zenyatta.

There are 28 horses for today, mostly new but a few are repeats such as favorites or those who had timed works. Click the small picture to see a larger version.

Zenyatta came out again as scheduled at 9:15am, standing at the end of the mile chute for 10 minutes before going for a 1 1/2 mile gallop on the main track under exercise rider Steve Willard. She also schooled in the paddock this afternoon. Trainer John Shirreffs said of the defending Classic champion, "She galloped beautifully and she's very happy. On the second day of taking her to the track you might think she'd be a little flat but she was full of energy. Steve said she could have gone around another time. As the trainer that's what you look for, enthusiasm and energy."

Midday, defending champion of the Filly and Mare Turf, blew out 3/8 on the main track in 42 seconds. Trainer Henry Cecil said, "The morning went well; she blew out well. She's fresh, happy, eating well. I think she's better than she was last year. We'll just keep our fingers crossed."

Beethoven circled in the chute after a brief walk on the dirt, then galloped strongly once around, and eased down to a jog as he made a second circuit of the 7f turf course. Aidan O'Brien's traveling head lad Pat Keating said, "He pulled up nice and easy."

Master of Hounds worked 3f on the turf in 38 seconds on Thursday in preparation for the Juvenile Turf on Saturday. He is the 9-2 morning line favorite for trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey John Murtagh.

Deciphering Dreams worked 3f in 38 2/5 on Thursday morning. He will attempt to become the first New York-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race when he goes in the Juvenile Turf on Saturday. Ramon Dominguez will be aboard for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., breaking from post 2 as a 20-1 shot on the morning line.

Atoned came out for his final gallop before the Marathon tomorrow. He drew the rail in the 1 3/4 mile Grade 3 event for trainer Neil Howard, and will have Robby Albarado in the irons. He is a 20-1 longshot on the morning line.

Blind Luck galloped once around the track Thursday morning and schooled in the paddock in the afternoon. She goes in the Ladies Classic. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said of the Kentucky Oaks winner, "She stays happy .She's the same type (as Lite Light); light-boned, feminine. But she's easy on herself."

California Flag galloped 1 1/2 miles Thursday morning in preparation for the Turf Sprint with assistant trainer Colleen Hartford in the irons. He will be ridden by Victor Espinoza and they'll start from post 12 in the full field of 14.

Delegator exercised on the turf course Thursday morning under the direction of trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who arrived at the track following a long flight from Australia. Bin Suroor said, "He did his main work in England before he traveled here. He jogged and cantered today and he looked fine. He came back happy. So far, so good with him."

Due Date drew post 10 in the Juvenile Turf for trainer Steve Margolis. The 15-1 outsider will have Garrett Gomez aboard on Saturday.

Fancy Point galloped on the turf with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trainer Will Phipps said, "(Desormeaux) fell in love with her out there today. When he came off the gap he said Wow. I always like that when they impress them early on. She just did it easily. Her starts are limited but what she's done she's done well."

Giant Oak will have Garrett Gomez aboard on Friday in the Marathon. The Chris Block trainee drew post 8 and is 4-1 co-second choice on the morning line. Block said, "The results have been frustrating, but the more I look back, the more I realize the horse has given us all he could possibly give. He's had his chances. He's had good trips and good rides. The horses he's faced, no matter the surface or distance, have just been a little better than him."

Girolamo jogged 1 mile and galloped 1 3/8 miles under exercise rider Kike Sierra in preparation for the Sprint. Thursday afternoon he schooled in the paddock with stablemate Gayego.

Goldikova will attempt to become the first three-peat winner of a Breeders' Cup race when she again faces males in the Mile on Saturday. She cantered on the main track Thursday as trainer Freddy Head looked on. Head said, "She can do a lot of things. Last year, she came from way back. Last time (Prix de la Foret) she led from the start. She is very, very handy. It all depends on the pace – the faster the better for her. We leave that all to (jockey Olivier) Peslier. She's put on weight since last year, she's stronger, but she's the same. She's kept that willingness. She's still fresh like a 3-year-old. She doesn't seem tired of racing. That's what is so great about her."

Humble and Hungry is a 20-1 outsider in the Juvenile Turf, and was out Thursday for a maintenance gallop. Olivier Peslier will be in the irons Saturday for trainer Ignacio Correas.

J P's Gusto went to the track at 9 a.m. for a 1 1/2 mile gallop under exercise rider Martin DeRubin. Trainer David Hofmans oversaw the exercise at Churchill Downs and declared all well with his Breeders' Cup Juvenile entrant. "He stood in the gate, too, and all is good," the veteran California conditioner said. "We beat the Zenyatta rush, so we were OK."

Milwaukee Appeal galloped 1 1/4 miles on the main track a day before she goes in the Ladies Classic. Trainer Scott Fairlie said, "We got her around safely and soundly. I'm very happy with the way she's taken to the dirt here. I thought she would like this surface, so I'm very confident now. This is going to be a very good and competitive race. All the main players seem to be in fine form." The 2009 Woodbine Oaks winner will attempt to be the second Canadian-bred to win the Ladies Classic after Dance Smartly in 1991, also at Churchill Downs.

Miss Keller galloped on the turf a day before contesting the Filly and Mare Turf. Her trainer Roger Attfield said, "She blew out a quarter-mile which is what I usually do with her the day before a race. She went in 25-26, which is what I wanted."

Paddy O'Prado will be making his second start against older rivals in Saturday's Classic after finishing second to Turf hopeful Winchester in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park in his last start. Regular rider Kent Desormeaux has the mount aboard Paddy O'Prado who starts from post 2. On Thursday afternoon he schooled in the paddock.

Proviso schooled in the paddock and galloped Thursday and goes in the Mile on Saturday. Trainer Bill Mott said, "I think she's pretty darn good. I think four Grade 1s speaks for itself. There are not many horses that ever do that. This may be the most competitive race the whole day."

Rightly So went out for a gallop Thursday morning. She drew post 13 in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Cornelio Velasquez will be in the irons for trainer Tony Dutrow.

Society's Chairman galloped on the turf in preparation for the Mile. Trainer Roger Attfield said, "I usually like to blow him out the day before the race but the turf course will be closed tomorrow morning, so I had to do it today. He blew out a quarter-mile today in 25-ish, which is what I wanted. He does well on the smaller courses with tighter turns."

Stradivinsky schooled in the paddock Thursday morning and goes in the Turf Sprint on Saturday. Trainer Rick Dutrow said, "It's been nothing but good stuff since we claimed him. The horse is happy, loves that Churchill turf course and is going to run big. In these races you're going to catch some very fast horses and with a horse like him, there's really nothing you can do about it. We're telling Johnny (Velazquez) to send him to the lead and we're going to go hard."

Tale Untold galloped on the turf in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday. Assistant trainer Richard Hannon Jr. said, "She doesn't need much more. She had a canter around the turf and had a look at it. She's all ready." Hannon Jr. is taking over training for his father who underwent heart bypass surgery earlier this week.

Theysken's Theory jogged, visited the paddock, and galloped on the main track on Thursday. Trainer Brian Meehan said of the Juvenile Fillies entrant, "She spent more time with her pony this morning, and is really enjoying that. She came out of Ascot better than she came out of Goodwood."

Tizway galloped 2 miles the wrong way in the morning, and then schooled in the paddock in the afternoon. Trainer James Bond said of his Dirt Mile entrant, "That's standard for me going into a race. He worked pretty hard at Saratoga, and I'm just trying to keep him sound and happy now. He was a little slow to develop. I had nominated him to the Kentucky Derby and he trained pretty good in the morning. He kind of baffled me a little bit early."

Typhoon Slew went out for a gallop on Thursday morning. He drew the inside post 1 in the Juvenile Turf. Julien Leparoux gets the call aboard the 15-1 shot for trainer Mike Maker.

Vineyard Haven schooled in the paddock Thursday afternoon in preparation for the Dirt Mile. He drew post 12 for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, and will have Alan Garcia in the irons.

Breeders' Cup quick links:

2015 Breeders' Cup Contender - top contenders for the 13 Breeders' Cup World Championship races to be held at Keeneland on October 30 and 31. .

Breeders' Cup Weather - What will the weather be like at Keeneland on October 30 and 31? Here are lots of places to find out!

Review: Crushing the Cup 2015 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland updated for 2015.

The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.

Free Prep Replays - for major prep races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge. The ones with camera logos have video available.

Breeders' Cup Supplemental Entries - The old official policy on supplemental entries plus all the supplemental entries and how they fared, mostly it was a losing proposition. There are no more supplements now, only late nominations making it impossible to track now.